Nicole Hancock
Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony ...

Kristen Villebrun and Wendy Bush hoped they wouldn't have to pray for Chedoke Creek, but four years after they first raised alarm about the water's condition, they were part of an Indigenous full moon ceremony to do just that. About 50 people showed up near Princess Point on the dark and frigid Monday evening for the monthly ceremony, which was particularly special as it focused on Chedoke Creek. The body of water that runs into Cootes Paradise had about 24 billion litres of sewage and storm water runoff leak into it due to a gate being left open.

Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony to heal Chedoke Creek

COVID-19

Canada to continue testing wastewater for COVID-19 spread

Canada to continue testing wastewater for COVID-19 spread

Although the COVID-19 spread is no longer an ongoing pandemic in the eyes of the World Health Organization, the federal government will still be monitoring potential spread rates through waste water. Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos announced that the Public Health Agency of Canada is partnering with the Canadian Water Network to monitor Canadian wastewater. Duclos said in a statement how this national wastewater surveillance program will help keep Canadians healthy through guidance materials and wastewater data.

Saint John dropped from national COVID-19 wastewater monitoring site over data accuracy concerns

Saint John dropped from national COVID-19 wastewater monitoring site over data accuracy concerns

Saint John has been temporarily removed from the national COVID-19 wastewater surveillance dashboard over concerns about the accuracy of its data. Public Health Agency of Canada officials believe "the sampling point and treatment of the sample prior to testing was the origin of the test variance," said spokesperson Anna Maddison. This suggests "the reported values are not reflective of the community burden," said spokesperson Nicholas Janveau.

Disease the new threat as Turkey faces post-quake water shortage

Disease the new threat as Turkey faces post-quake water shortage

More than a week after his home was wrecked in a deadly earthquake that hit southern Turkey, Mohammad Emin's body is still covered in dust and grime. Like countless other victims of a catastrophe that killed more than 41,000 in Turkey and Syria, he is still waiting for a wash - affected by a shortage of clean water that international health bodies say poses a risk to public health.

COVID-19 surged in Fredericton over holidays, new wastewater data reveals

COVID-19 surged in Fredericton over holidays, new wastewater data reveals

Fredericton had a surge of COVID-19 just after the holidays, newly released wastewater data indicates. The capital was added to the Public Health Agency of Canada's COVID-19 wastewater surveillance dashboard Tuesday night, joining Moncton as the second New Brunswick location on the national website launched nine months ago. Data dating back to Dec. 22 shows Fredericton's seven-day rolling average of viral load, expressed as the number of viral gene copies found in a millilitre of raw sewage, started out at 17 copies/ml.

COVID-19 wastewater levels back on the rise in Saskatoon and Regina

COVID-19 wastewater levels back on the rise in Saskatoon and Regina

Levels of the COVID-19 virus in Saskatoon’s wastewater are back on the rise, according to the University of Saskatchewan’s Global Institute for Water Security. Researcher Femi Oloye said in an email that in the most recent reporting period, the viral RNA load in Saskatoon and Prince Albert increased, while North Battleford saw a decrease. Up to Jan. 25, Saskatoon’s wastewater viral load increased by 97.6 per cent, sitting at a medium level and the 43rd highest concentration measured in the city. That increase comes after weeks of relative stability and most recently, a decrease of 59.4 per cent.

Canadian scientists watching for new COVID variants in airplane wastewater

Canadian scientists watching for new COVID variants in airplane wastewater

As Canadian public health officials question China's transparency in sharing its COVID-19 surveillance information, scientists are stepping up airplane wastewater testing to try to get an early warning of potential new variants. On Friday, Vancouver International Airport will join Toronto's Pearson International Airport in taking samples of fecal matter that came from airplane toilets to identify what coronavirus variants and subvariants passengers and crew might be bringing into Canada.

COVID-19 levels in Saskatoon highest in recent weeks, according to wastewater study

COVID-19 levels in Saskatoon highest in recent weeks, according to wastewater study

Saskatoon is experiencing a rise in COVID-19 levels according to the most recent results from a study that tracks the virus in the city's wastewater. The University of Saskatchewan's Global Water Futures Program has been tracking the virus in Prince Albert, North Battleford and Saskatoon via samples taken from wastewater since summer 2020. Saskatoon's viral load has increased by 85.8 per cent from last week's report and is the highest it has been in the past month, according to the study.

Here's how a Calgary lab monitors wastewater for respiratory diseases

Here's how a Calgary lab monitors wastewater for respiratory diseases

Inside the Pine Creek wastewater treatment plant in the south of Calgary, a lab run by the University of Calgary is busy processing wastewater samples from municipalities across the province. This lab, along with one operated by the University of Alberta, started tracing levels of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in wastewater in early 2020 — providing Alberta Health Services with infection trends in different communities. Now the project has expanded to check for influenza A and B, as well as RSV — respiratory viruses that are all currently putting a strain on Alberta's health care system.

Severe spike in COVID-19 detected in Saskatoon wastewater

Severe spike in COVID-19 detected in Saskatoon wastewater

The COVID-19 viral load in Saskatoon's wastewater spiked by more than 400 per cent in one week, according to research from the University of Saskatchewan. Researchers from the university's Global Water Futures program have been analyzing wastewater samples from Saskatoon, North Battleford and Prince Albert for COVID-19 since summer 2020. The results can predict a rise or fall of COVID-19 diagnoses about a week in advance. Researchers say most people start shedding SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, within 24 hours of being infected.

Evidence of COVID-19 in wastewater continues to drop in Saskatoon, Prince Albert

Evidence of COVID-19 in wastewater continues to drop in Saskatoon, Prince Albert

Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan say levels of COVID-19 have continued to decline in wastewater in Prince Albert, Saskatoon and North Battleford. On Monday, researchers with the university's Global Water Futures program released their weekly wastewater report. Sewage samples are taken from water treatment plants and tested for levels of COVID-19. The results can be used to determine whether case numbers are expected to rise or fall in the short term future.

Wastewater study finds COVID-19 declining in some Sask. cities

Wastewater study finds COVID-19 declining in some Sask. cities

An ongoing study of COVID-19 levels in wastewater conducted by the University of Saskatchewan has found there are less traces of the virus in some of the cities it is tracking. The University of Saskatchewan and Global Water Futures program have been examining wastewater samples from Saskatoon, Prince Albert and North Battleford since the summer of 2020. Their goal is to track the spread of COVID-19 in the community through wastewater, with their results usually dictating a rise or fall about a week in advance of changes in cases.

COVID-19 levels decline in Saskatoon and Prince Albert wastewater samples

COVID-19 levels decline in Saskatoon and Prince Albert wastewater samples

Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan say levels of COVID-19 were down in Prince Albert and Saskatoon in the latest tests of wastewater samples. Researchers with the university's Global Water Futures program have been analyzing wastewater samples from Saskatoon, North Battleford and Prince Albert for COVID-19 since summer 2020. The study's results can help predict a rise or fall of COVID-19 diagnoses about a week in advance. The latest samples show the week-over-week SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA load in Saskatoon's wastewater decreased by 36.2 per cent.

COVID-19 viral loads in major Sask. cities' wastewater at highest levels in months

COVID-19 viral loads in major Sask. cities' wastewater at highest levels in months

The COVID-19 viral loads in some of Saskatchewan's major cities are the highest they've been in months, according to the latest weekly report from University of Saskatchewan researchers. Researchers with the university's Global Water Futures program have been analyzing wastewater samples from Saskatoon, North Battleford and Prince Albert for COVID-19 since summer 2020. The study's results can help predict a rise or fall of COVID-19 diagnoses about a week in advance. In an email on Sunday, the team's lead researcher John Giesy said the viral load has "increased significantly" in all three cities, continuing a 10-week trend of upticks.

Saskatchewan waste water teams consider testing for polio, monkeypox

Saskatchewan waste water teams consider testing for polio, monkeypox

Saskatchewan researchers scanning sewers for COVID-19 may soon be on the lookout for other viruses. Wastewater epidemiology teams in Saskatoon and Regina are considering searching for monkeypox and polio, two viruses that are on the rise in North America. “Basically, we’re trying to translate what we’ve done for the SARS-CoV-2 methodology and see how well it works for these other viruses,” said University of Regina biology professor Tzu-Chiao Chao. Wastewater testing looks for traces of viruses or other contaminants in sewage.

Wastewater testing a 'potentially powerful tool' in tracking the flu, epidemiologist says

Wastewater testing a 'potentially powerful tool' in tracking the flu, epidemiologist says

Researchers at the University of Ottawa are using the wastewater testing strategy that has helped track the ebbs and flows of coronavirus and applying it to influenza. Patrick D'Aoust, a PhD candidate in the faculty of engineering, said the idea came from one his colleagues, Elisabeth Mercier, and the success of the wastewater testing used to track levels of coronavirus in Ottawa. "She said, 'You know we're looking [for] COVID-19. It's an RNA virus. Why don't we just start looking at other RNA viruses?" D'Aoust said.

N.B. wastewater data suggests some COVID-19 cases went undetected in 2021

N.B. wastewater data suggests some COVID-19 cases went undetected in 2021

Public Health officials have raised questions around whether some COVID-19 cases in New Brunswick went undetected in early 2021, after an apparent mismatch between the amount of COVID-19 appearing in wastewater and the province's own COVID-19 testing. The wastewater data shows four apparent spikes of COVID-19 in 2021: on Feb. 8, March 18, April 29 and June 28, all times when there were "minimal cases or positive tests" reported and PCR testing was widely offered. The wastewater testing is conducted by the City of Moncton, which has a partnership with Dalhousie University, and is provided to New Brunswick Public Health. CBC News obtained a copy of the test results, and discussion within the Department of Health about the results, through access to information.

Kontrol Technologies receives National Research Council of Canada funds to accelerate development of wastewater testing technology

Kontrol Technologies receives National Research Council of Canada funds to accelerate development of wastewater testing technology

Kontrol Technologies Corp (OTCQB:KNRLF, NEO:KNR) announced that its subsidiary CEM Specialties Inc has received funding of up to $300,000 and advisory services from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program. The funds and support are for a research and development project to accelerate its new wastewater testing technology, the Kontrol BioWater analyzer for the detection of viruses including COVID-19.

Indigenous Life and one of the Largest Freshwater Lakes in the World

Indigenous Life and one of the Largest Freshwater Lakes in the World

Filmmaker Kevin Settee's four-part documentary series is an ode to one of the world's largest freshwater lakes and the people and communities who care for it. The series profiles the resilience and ingenuity of four Indigenous communities: Matheson Island, Poplar River First Nation, Fisher River Cree Nation and Camp Morningstar. Using an "own voices" approach, Settee connects with people who are responding to various external challenges such as climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic and industrial encroachment.

Mask as needed: wastewater data shows COVID levels still higher than last June

Mask as needed: wastewater data shows COVID levels still higher than last June

Go into any store these days and there's a mixture of people wearing masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and those who are opting not to wear one. It may have people feeling like they're in COVID-19 limbo. Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, the Region of Waterloo's medical officer of health, says currently there's "no cut and dry threshold" when it comes to mask wearing and "it will vary according to individual comfort levels."

Bridgetown church loses appeal of water bill, but donations have been pouring in

Bridgetown church loses appeal of water bill, but donations have been pouring in

The Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board has denied an appeal from a Bridgetown church that received a hefty water bill from the Municipality of the County of Annapolis following a burst pipe that went undetected. St. James Anglican Church received a water bill of $5,485 this spring after a pipe burst while the church was shut down in the winter due to COVID-19.

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